FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 2 FOCUS | Page 6 Pakhtakor vs Tokyo bosses Esteghlal clash announce a set to be a scaled-back thrilling aff air Olympics plan
Saturday, September 26, 2020 SPOTLIGHT Safar 9, 1442 AH Australia mourns GULF TIMES ‘original maverick’ Dean Jones SPORT Page 7 ATHLETICS / DIAMOND LEAGUE It feels like home as Obiri powers to 3,000m victory Yesterday, she led a Kenyan sweep of top five with Agnes Tirop and Beatrice Chepkoech finishing second and third respectively
By Mikhil Bhat Doha
ellen Obiri had little trouble notching yet an- other memorable victo- Hry in Doha as the Kenyan topped the women’s 3,000m event with ease at the Doha Diamond League event at Qatar Sports Club yesterday. Obiri, who won the 5,000m in a world-leading time of 14:22.12 in Monaco last month, also set a world leading time in the 3,000m yesterday, winning in 8:22.54. Obiri had been training in Doha USA’s Aaron Mallet celebrates after winning the men’s 110m hurdles for a month in preparation for the during the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Doha yesterday. fi nal Diamond League event of the season in hopes of improving her personal best of 8:20.68 that she had set at the same venue in 2014. The Qatari capital has worked for her on many occasions, includ- ing last year when she had won the same event in the Diamond League before winning the 5,000m world title. Yesterday, she led a Kenyan sweep of top fi ve with Agnes Tirop Kenya’s Hellen Obiri celebrates after setting a world leading time in the women’s 3,000 metres at the Doha Diamond League meeting at the and Beatrice Chepkoech fi nish- Suheim bin Hamad Stadium yesterday, PICTURES: AFP, Ramchand, Shemeer Rashid and Noushad Thekkayil ing second and third respectively. Margaret Kipkemboi and Hyvin best of 20.23 seconds, shaving al- “I wasn’t really expecting to win Kiyeng rounded out the top fi ve. most half a second off his previous and that’s why I am very surprised “Doha has become more like mark. Jamaican Julian Forte ran a not only with the win but with my a second home to me as I’ve won season’s best 20.39 for his second record here tonight,” Kipyegon so many races here including the place, while Olympic bronze med- said after the win. World Championships last year. allist Christophe Lemaitre was “The year has been a disturbing I love coming back to Doha again third in 20.68 seconds. one for everyone… we can’t wait and again. I’ve had the opportu- Payton Chadwick of the US enough for 2021 to be here. I am nity of training in Doha for about a topped the women’s 100m hur- going back home to celebrate with month in preparation for this event dles ahead of compatriot Taliyah my husband and daughter, and and I believe it has helped me to get Brooks. While Chadwick ran a sea- after that start the preparation for in shape and acclimatised quite son’s best of 12.78 seconds, Brooks next year and particularly for the well,” Obiri said. was second in a personal best Olympics.” Morocco’s Ilyass El Ouali celebrates winning the 1,500m yesterday. Double Olympic champion mark of 12.86. Britain’s Cindy Ofi li The 1,500m world champion Elaine Thompson-Herah won the (13.02) was third. Timothy Cheruiyot had chosen to latest edition of her rivalry with Stewart McSweyn set the Aus- step down in distance to 800m to multiple world medallist Marie- tralian national record in the men’s test his speed endurance. Howev- Josee Ta Lou, topping the women’s 1500m fi nal to win the event for er, that part of the plan didn’t work 100m sprint in 10.87 seconds. the fi rst time at a Diamond League. out well for the Kenyan. After the Jamaican Thompson- The 25-year-old won in a per- Compatriot and world bronze Herah won the 200m in 2017, the sonal best time of 3:30.51 ahead medallist Ferguson Cheruiyot Ivorian Ta Lou won the 100m in of Ethiopian Selemon Barega Rotich ran a season’s best 1:44.16 2018. At last year’s Doha Worlds, (3:32.97) and Moroccan Soufi ane to win the two lap race, edging out Ta Lou was third in 100m, while El Bakkali (3:33.45). Britain’s Elliot Giles (1:44.56) for Thompson-Herah, battling an in- Olympic champion Faith Kipy- the win. Another Kenyan, Wyclife jury, fi nished fourth. egon stayed unbeaten in the short Kinyamal, was third in 1:45.68, Yesterday, Thompson-Herah 2020 season so far winning the while Cheruiyot fi nished eighth fi nished just outside her world Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah (R) wins the Women’s 100m. women’s 800m event in a world despite his season’s best 1:46.78. leading time of 10.85, while Amer- leading time of 1:57.68, also her Elsewhere, Aaron Mallet of the ican Kayla White rounded out the a great event,” Thompson-Herah agenda and it begins in earnest.” personal best. She fi nished almost US won the men’s 110m hurdles, top three in 11.25 seconds. said after the win. “I am happy to Running 200m for the fi rst time one and a half seconds ahead of while Ukrainian Maryna Bekh- “It’s been wonderful been here win but my major focus is to fi n- this season, there was little stop- second-placed Esther Guerrero Romanchuk jumped a season’s in Doha and I want to thank the or- ish the year healthy. Preparations ping Arthur Cisse of Ivory Coast, (1:59.22), while Britain’s Adelle best 6.91m for a win in the wom- ganisers for putting together such for the Olympics is the next on my who eased to victory in a personal Tracey was third in 1:59.87. en’s long jump event. Kenya’s Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich (R) on way to win 800m race.
CYCLING Ganna fi rst Italian to win time trial world title Reuters seconds. ing for a podium fi nish having were running around looking for Dutchman Tom Dumoulin, Imola, Italy Swiss Stefan Kung took third won four rainbow jerseys on the it... No idea. the 2017 champion, endured a place, 29.80 seconds off the pace, track already.” “Someone (messed) up, but bad day at the offi ce, narrowly as Australian Rohan Dennis, who Ganna is the fi rst Italian to win that’s the way it goes,” Thomas avoiding a crash in the fi nale and re-race favourite Filippo had won the two previous titles, the individual time trial at the was quoted as saying by Cycling fi nishing 10th, more than one Ganna won his maiden ended up a disappointing fi fth. road world championships. News. minute off the pace. individual time trial “It’s a dream for me, I had great Briton Geraint Thomas, who is “I only got my race bike three Chaos was narrowly avoided world title on home soil support from the team car, I want gearing up for next month’s Giro minutes before the start and I as the fi nish line arch collapsed asP the Italian crushed his rivals to thank the whole Italian team,” d’Italia, fi nished an encouraging was like, ‘Where’s my Garmin?’ about half an hour after the last over 32 kilometres yesterday. said Ganna, who had geared up fourth after making a fast start They gave me a spare one and I rider, Dennis, completed his ride. Italy’s Filippo Ganna in The 24-year-old, a four-times for the event by winning the indi- despite racing without his GPS was frantically pairing that. “Due to the very strong wind action during the men’s individual pursuit world cham- vidual time trial on the Tirreno- unit. Then I went to put it on and it today, the fi nish arch fell down elite individual time pion on the track, clocked 35 Adriatico stage race earlier this “I warmed up on a diff erent was too big to fi t on, so I was like, in the late afternoon, after the trial in Imola yesterday. minutes 54.10 seconds to beat month. bike and then I got to my race jeepers, but that’s just the way it end of the race,” the UCI said in Belgian Wout van Aert by 26.72 “I had no pressure. I was com- bike and it wasn’t there. People goes.” a statement. Gulf Times 2 Saturday, September 26, 2020 SPORT
HORSE RACING Lost In Space fi nds the winning post for Qatar Racing Agencies Man a length and three quarters Newmarket, United Kingdom further back in third. Top fi eld for QREC-sponsored Murphy commented after the race, “He’s tough and the yard sprint in Ireland today he two-year-old colt has done a great job with this Lost In Space notched horse. He’s on a winning streak A top quality field will line up today for the Qatar Racing and his third consecutive and I’m very pleased. He could Equestrian Club Renaissance Stakes (Group 3) in Curragh, Ireland, victory for owners Qa- strengthen up from 2 to 3, so let’s today. The black type six-furlong sprint will be run at 5:50pm Qatar Ttar Racing Limited at Newmar- see what the next step is. He rel- time and is open to three-year-old and older horses. David O’Meara- ket’s Rowely Mile in the Bentley ished going a mile today.” trained Summerghand, winner over the distance at Goodwood in Motors Nursery Handicap on Lost In Space was bred by August, runner up in Newmarket and then eighth in Haydock last Thursday. Trained by John Gos- Mountarmstrong Stud and time out, returns to Curragh after a two-year gap. The six-year-old den, he was ridden by Qatar Rac- bought by David Redvers at Tat- gelding will be in the hands of Oisin Orr in today’s outing. ing Limited’s retained rider Oi- tersalls in December 2019. By Urban Beat, from the stables of Irish trainer Johnny Murtagh, is sin Murphy for his fi rst attempt the speedy sire Dark Angel, he searching for his first win since April of 2019. A course-and-distance over a mile. is the brother of Listed winner winner, the five-year-old finished in the frame at Curragh in June and Quickly up on the pace, Lost Alkasser. July, and will have Colin Keane in the saddle. In Space took the lead after the His dam, Alexander Queen is Others to line up in the 12-strong race include Southern Horse, who fi rst 200 metres. The race was the sister to two speedy horses impressed on his first outing for trainer Jessica Harrington with then his for the taking and when — the fi lly Anthem Alexan- a third-place finish in Cork, Aidan Fogarty-saddled filly Forever In asked to accelerate by Murphy in der, winner of the Queen Mary Dreams, third in Curragh last month, and Willie McCreery-trained the fi nal 600m, he pulled easily Stakes (Group 2) at Royal Ascot, gelding Downforce. Eight-year-old Downforce has not won since clear to hammer home a four- and Dandy Man, winner of the April of 2018, but has finished runner up thrice over course and dis- length victory in front of Olym- Stan James Palace House Stakes Oisin Murphy (left) rides Lost In Space to victory in the The Bentley Motors Nursery Handicap at Newmarket tance in the last year, latest of which was last month on soft ground. pic Theatre, with Mark Of The (Group 3) and now a sire. on Racing behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic. ©mark cranhamphoto.com
AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE COMMENT We must be more eff ective in the Pakhtakor, Esteghlal next stage: Xavi
Doha By Sports Reporter
l Sadd head coach clash set to be a Xavi Hernandez praised the young players who appeared Uzbek champions to meet inA the team’s fi nal AFC Cham- pions League group game Iranian club in round of 16 tie against Sepahan, that ended in a 2-1 win for the Iranian side. at Al Janoub Stadium today Addressing the media at cracking aff air the post-match press confer- ence, Xavi said: “I am proud AFC of the players. Despite the loss, Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez Doha we played with many young players. We committed two far in the Champions League mistakes and they scored two and we are ready to face any zbek champions Pa- goals, and this is the level of team from Group C.” khtakor face Islamic competition in the Champions Asked about the level of the Republic of Iran’s Es- League.” Al Sadd team so far, after the teghlal FC in the sec- He added: “I always fear end of the group stage, Xavi Uond match of the 2020 AFC individual mistakes. We must said: “We are close to being the Champions League Round of 16 learn from this because the ideal team. We need to improve at Al Janoub Stadium today. round of 16 will be more dif- in defence as well as in attack. Pakhtakor returned to the fi cult, and we cannot make This is part of football. We will knockout stage for the fi rst time mistakes.” try to work hard. I am very since 2010 after topping Group B Xavi continued by saying: happy so far with the team and with 10 points. “The small details will make the players.” The annulment of Al Hilal the diff erence in the Champi- Al Sadd defender Ahmed SFC’s results meant Pakhta- ons League. We must be more Suhail said the defeat was a kor had secured their place in eff ective in the next stage, learning experience for our the next round before kicking which will be a knockout stage. young players. off their matchday six win over One mistake is enough to make Speaking after the match, Shahr Khodro. you go home. We must be fo- Ahmed said: “The match was Despite failing to make it to cused and make a thousand an opportunity for us to ben- the AFC Champions League calculations for each team in efi t from, as we were facing a twice in the past three years, Pa- order to continue in the tour- strong team like Sepahan. We khtakor hold the record for most nament.” were close to getting a draw, appearances in the competition As for the team that he pre- but we were not successful.” amongst Uzbek clubs with 14 fers to face in the round of 16, He added: “Our focus is now times. the coach said: “All the clubs completely on the round of 16 In fact only Al Hilal, Al Ain in the Round of 16 are diffi cult. game, because it’s decisive for and Al Sadd amongst West Asia After two hours, we will know us to continue in the competi- sides have played in more edi- our opponent. We will study tion. We hope that we will be tions of the AFC Champions them well and it will be dif- successful in it, and continue League. fi cult, but we are excited to go to advance in Asia.” Iranian giants Esteghlal con- tinued their revival in recent years by reaching the knockout SPOTLIGHT stage for the third time in four years after fi nishing second in Group A. Head coach Majid Namjoo- Al Kharaitiyat beat Motalgh’s men had to dig deep to secure their qualifi cation cour- tesy of a matchday six 3-0 win Al Rayyan 4-1 in over group winners Al Ahli Saudi FC that helped them edge Iraq’s Al Shorta on goal diff erence. Ooredoo Cup Esteghlal’s best moments in continental football date long be- By Sports Reporter was the spearhead and Evans fore the launch of the AFC Cham- Doha Mensah was the livewire of Al pions League. Kharaitiyat, who had more of The Iranian side won the Asian the ball too (58 per cent). Club Championship in 1970 and l Kharaitiyat defeat- On the other hand, Al Rayy- 1990-91 and fi nished runners up ed Al Rayyan 4-1 in an lost the plot in the second in 1991 and 1998-99, but since round 1 of the 2020- session after putting up a good the 2002-03 rebranding of the 21 season Ooredoo fi ght in the fi rst. Osman opened competition, 11 previous appear- CupA at the Al Gharafa Stadium the scoring with an easy fi nish ances for Esteghlal have produced yesterday. Mohamed Osman after he pierced through the ri- only one semi-fi nal appearance. Pakhtakor players form a defensive wall during AFC Champions League Group B match against Shahr Khodro at Al Janoub Stadium on (20th minute), substitute Ab- val defence and controlled well The game at Al Janoub Stadi- Wednesday. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil dulrahman Mohamed (74th a chipped pass from Evans. um today is the third encounter minute) and Rashid Tiberka- Ferydoon converted the pen- between the two perennials in nine (86th and 90th minutes) alty, awarded when Al Rayyan’s the competition. FOCUS scored for Al Kharaitiyat. Ali Mohamed Alaaeldin was fouled Their two previous games Ferydoon gave Al Rayyan’s by Mahmoud Saad. came in the 2011 AFC Cham- lone reply in the 32nd minute. Abdulrahman made it 2-1 pions League Group B and saw The tournament opener after he only had to apply the them exchange wins. Al Ahli, Shabab Al Ahli promise thrilling tie featured two teams with vary- fi nishing touch to a through Esteghlal emerged 4-2 winners ing strengths. Al Rayyan had pass from Tiberkanine, who at Azadi Stadium on matchday he 2020 AFC Champions League ance in the competition came in 2012 when Rebranded as Shabab Al Ahli in 2017 af- fi nished runners-up in the himself was on target off a three and Pakhtakor responded round of 16 gets underway today at they went all the way to the fi nal before losing ter Al Ahli Dubai were merged with Al recently-concluded 2019-20 cross from Abdulmajid Anad. 2-1 in Tashkent, with current Al Janoub Stadium with Al Ahli Saudi to Ulsan Hyundai 3-0. Shabab and Dubai SC, the seven-time UAE season QNB Stars League just Tiberkanine rounded off club captain Igor Krimets scor- FC taking on Shabab Al Ahli Dubai. Head coach Vladan Milojevic’s side also Pro League champions are back in the AFC one point behind Al Duhail, the tally as he struck home a ing the winner. TAl Ahli reached the knock-out stage for became the only team to reach the knockout Champions League and in the knockout stage while Al Kharaitiyat got back rebound from Al Rayyan de- At the time, both sides were the eighth time in their history after topping stage every year since 2017. In turn, Shabab for the fi rst time since the 2017 edition in to the top fl ight after a gap of fender Abdulla al-Marri who eliminated from the group stage, Group A with six points. Al Ahli fi nished second behind Pakhtakor in which they exited in the Round of 16 at the one season by emerging as the blocked Osman’s shot. with the group tickets going to Following the withdrawal of Al Wahda Group B. hands of none other than their Saturday op- second division champions. Al Arabi had it easy over Al Al Sadd and Al Nassr. FSCC and annulment of their results, Al The annulment of Al Hilal’s results in the ponents Al Ahli. But it was Al Kharaitiyat Ahli winning 5-1 at the Al Du- Since then Esteghlal have Ahli’s 1-0 win over Al Shorta on Matchday group meant seven points were enough to “First of all, we are all happy to be in the who had the last laugh against hail Stadium. Hamdi Harbaoui reached the semi-fi nals in 2013, Three meant they advanced to the next round send the Emiratis to the next round. Round of 16. an Al Rayyan side, comprising (18th and 34th minutes), Sebas- losing to Seoul FC, while Pa- with two games to spare, having picked up Under Spanish head coach Gerard Zarago- Tomorrow will be an important game but mostly Under-23 players. tian Soria (20th minute), Mehr- khtakor could not advance past four points from their fi rst two matches. za, Shabab Al Ahli are unbeaten since the we have experience in the tournament. We After the scores were level dad Mohammadi (54th minute) the group stage since 2010. Both Amongst Saudi clubs, only Al Hilal SFC restart of the competition, having picked are taking all the games as a fi nal. We rested (1-1) at half-time, Al Kharaiti- and Ibrahim Nasser Kalla (78th sides exited at the group stage in boast more appearances in the AFC Cham- up full points in their double header against in the last game and we are ready to go again yat upped their ante on re- minute) scored for Al Arabi. their most recent appearance in pions League knockout stages than Al Ahli. Shahr Khodro and added a point with a draw tomorrow,” said Zaragoza. sumption of play and struck Mohamed al-Naimi scored for 2019. And the Jeddah-based side’s best perform- against Pakhtakor on Matchday Five. (AFC) three more goals. Tiberkanine Al Ahli in the 38th minute.(QSL) Gulf Times Saturday, September 26, 2020 3 FOOTBALL
EPL SPOTLIGHT Bale says he has no regrets aft er leaving Mendy will have Real Madrid
Reuters try and play, that’s all I can do London and everything else that’s said externally is out of my control. “Whatever anyone else has areth Bale said he has said, that’s up to them. I know to wait for Chelsea no regrets after leav- my opinion of myself and my ing Real Madrid to seal family know exactly what I am, a return to Tottenham so that’s all I’m worried about.” GHotspur and that his tumultuous “Going into a diff erent cul- but trophy-laden seven-year ture, a diff erent country, I’ve spell with the Spanish champi- had to grow up as a person, never ons had helped him grow up. mind a footballer.” Bale left the north London During Bale’s time in Madrid, debut: Lampard club in 2013 for a then world Spurs twice went close to win- record 100 million euros ($116.61 ning the Premier League and million) and went on to win four reached the Champions League ‘There is good competition there now and that is how we move forward’ Champions League titles and fi nal but silverware eluded the two La Liga crowns with Real, club and Bale is hoping his return scoring more than 100 goals. can spur them to new heights. AFP However, he divided opinion “In the time I’ve gone away London in Spain because of a perceived they’ve gone on and on and lack of commitment and poor reached the Champions League injury record and after a fall- fi nal, the club’s got a new sta- rank Lampard has re- ing out with Real manager Zin- dium, the club itself is better,” vealed Chelsea’s new edine Zidane, the Welsh forward he said. goalkeeper Edouard found himself marginalised and “I just want to add to that. I Mendy is not ready to returned to Spurs on a season- want to try and bring a bit more makeF his debut in tomorrow’s long loan. to the team and try and progress Premier League clash at West “I don’t have any regrets, no,” even more, keep pushing in the Bromwich Albion. Bale, 31, told Sky Sports. “I just right direction.” Mendy joined Chelsea from French club Rennes on a fi ve-year contract this week, strengthening Lampard’s goal- keeping options following Kepa Arrizabalaga’s dismal form. Kepa is the world’s most ex- pensive keeper but has rarely lived up to his £72 million ($91 million) price tag since arriving from Athletic Bilbao in 2018. The Spaniard’s costly mis- takes are likely to see him re- placed by Senegal international Mendy and he could even leave Chelsea in a loan deal before the transfer window closes in Octo- ber. But Lampard believes it is asking too much to give Mendy his fi rst taste of English foot- ball following a hectic week in which he has hardly trained. That leaves the door open for Kepa, who was at fault for goals in Chelsea’s fi rst two Premier League games against Brighton and Liverpool, to be handed one last chance to save his job. FOCUS Lampard, who could also se- lect Argentine veteran Willy Ca- ballero against West Brom, told reporters on Friday: “Mendy to Arteta heaps praise start tomorrow is not going to happen. He’s had a long week where he hasn’t trained. on Thiago ahead “He fl ew in yesterday, it just feels too tight of a turnaround to put him in contention to start of Anfi eld test the game.” Mendy’s £22 million move Reuters “Incredible personality, great could well spell the end of London talent, very special, great quali- Kepa’s reign as Chelsea’s ties to play in midfi eld and yes, number one. Lampard is yet I think he is a great signing for to hold a face-to-face meeting rsenal manager Mikel Liverpool.” with the 25-year-old about his Arteta has revealed he FA Cup winners Arsenal beat future, but will discuss his plans Chelsea’s new goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. is a huge admirer of Liverpool on penalties in the with Kepa and Caballero in the Liverpool midfi elder Community Shield at the start coming days. League Cup win against Barns- ThiagoA Alcantara but refused of the new season and now face Young fan thanks Man United’s Rashford for charity work “I have a very open line of ley. After Chelsea’s defensive to confi rm whether the north them twice in quick succes- communication with both of A seven-year-old boy has writ- he had relied on such support the hardest times of their life.” struggles last season, Lampard London club made an attempt to sion in the Premier League and them,” he said. “The goalkeep- ten an emotional letter to Man- as a boy. Jack went on to finish the let- needs a big impact from Brazil sign the player in the close sea- League Cup fourth round. ers have their own small union chester United forward Marcus The England international then ter by adding a bold transfer centre-back Silva and England son transfer window. Arteta’s side are unbeaten in at the training ground because Rashford thanking him for his formed a taskforce with some request: “Can you please join left-back Chilwell. Premier League champi- their last six matches in all com- of the way they work together. charity work - and asking him to major food brands to help Spurs? ... Thank you for every- “I’ve been very impressed ons Liverpool secured a major petitions but face a huge chal- “There is good competition join rivals Tottenham Hotspur. tackle child food poverty. thing you do.” with Thiago and Ben on and coup last week when they com- lenge at Anfi eld where they have there now and that is how we Rashford had earned wide- Jack, aged seven, wrote: “I love Rashford shared the letter on off the pitch,” he said. “They pleted the signing of Thiago failed to record a win since 2012. move forward.” spread praise after the 22-year- all the work you’ve done, some Twitter and the post now has have both added to the dress- from Champions League win- “I haven’t been to Anfi eld old successfully campaigned amazing things to help families over more than 66,000 likes. ing room. Thiago, albeit not ners Bayern Munich, with Brit- with them yet but I’m expecting ‘WINNING MENTALITY’ for school food vouchers to be who need it. “You have inspired “Keep being kind. That’s what speaking the language great, his ish media reporting Arsenal, that every ground we go to, we’re After spending around £220 provided over the summer holi- me because you’re so thought- makes the world go round,” winning mentality is something Manchester United and Chelsea going to prepare for the game to million to revamp his squad, days in Britain, revealing that ful and helped children through Rashford added. that comes cross in gestures and were also keen on bringing in the win and that they realise they are Lampard has seen several of his actions rather than talking at Spain international. good enough to do that,” Arteta players linked with moves away the moment. When asked if Arsenal were told reporters ahead of Monday’s from Stamford Bridge. said there were no plans to of- Lampard will take Chelsea to But he will be able to give “With Ben in terms of char- interested in signing Thiago, league clash. “In big games like Jorginho is reportedly a tar- fl oad anyone at present, adding: the Hawthorns without Chris- Premier League debuts to acter and how quickly he has Arteta said: “We don’t discuss that, every detail is really impor- get for Arsenal, while Antonio “Every one will be a case-by- tian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech, close-season signings Thiago settled in the dressing room, the things we try and do in the tant to get a win. When we have Rudiger is said to be interesting case situation. At the moment who are both expected back in a Silva and Ben Chilwell after the those have been really big posi- market, but I like him from my our opportunities, we have to Paris Saint-Germain. Lampard players remain ours.” week or two after injuries. pair featured in Wednesday’s tives for me.” time in Barcelona. put them in the net.”
LEAGUE CUP Manchester City, Liverpool reach fourth round AFP pass. namino and Curtis Jones both to get two goals to remember the London “He’s a diff erent striker to scoring twice. “Everybody used night by. what we have in terms of physi- the opportunity tonight to show Tayo Edun fi nished off a great cality. We see in training how up, that’s very important,” said team move and Lewis Montsma olders Manchester City good a fi nisher he is,” said Guar- Klopp. headed home a corner. needed a Phil Foden diola of the 17-year-old. “Who shows the desire we saw But Liverpool continued to goal 15 minutes from However, the lead lasted just tonight, who shows the attitude fi nd the net at the other end as time to see off Bourne- four minutes as Bournemouth’s we saw tonight, who shows so Marko Grujic briefl y made it 6-1 mouthH 2-1 and reach the fourth Sam Sturridge spun inside the many things that I like and we before Divock Origi rounded off round of the League Cup, while City box before fi ring into the far want to see when a Liverpool the scoring. Liverpool ran riot in a 7-2 win at corner. team shows up, then there’s a big Bertrand Traore marked his Lincoln on Thursday. Guardiola introduced the ar- chance you’ll get a lot of games Aston Villa debut with a stun- City have won the competi- tillery he had on the bench after during the season.” ning side-foot volley to score his tion for the past three years, but half-time in Kevin de Bruyne and Xherdan Shaqiri opened the side’s second goal in a comfort- Pep Guardiola admitted he had Raheem Sterling, but it was an- fl oodgates with a brilliant free- able 3-0 win at Bristol City. been forced to name a youth- other fi rst-team regular in Foden kick that clipped the underside Anwar El Ghazi opened the ful side to prioritise their Pre- who made the breakthrough af- of the bar. scoring 11 minutes in before mier League campaign due to ter Riyad Mahrez’s shot came Minamino curled home to Traore showed why Villa spent a shortened pre-season and a back off the post. double the Premier League £17 million ($21 million) to sign series of positive coronavirus City will travel to Burnley in champions’ lead before Curtis him from Lyon last week with a tests. the last 16. Jones struck twice in four min- cute fi nish from a narrow angle. Liam Delap, son of former Liverpool will face Arsenal utes to make it 4-0 before half- Another Villa new boy Ollie Stoke midfi elder Rory Delap, twice at Anfi eld in three days time. Watkins then grabbed his fi rst took just 18 minutes to score on next week after Jurgen Klopp’s A minute into the second-half, goal for the club 17 minutes from his City debut with a fi ne fi nish much-changed side hit Lin- Minamino had his second, but time as Dean Smith’s men set up Liverpool’s Xherdan Shaqiri (second right) celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates in their into the top corner from Foden’s coln for seven with Takumi Mi- League One Lincoln responded a last 16 clash with Stoke. League Cup match against Lincoln City. (Reuters) Gulf Times 4 Saturday, September 26, 2020 FOOTBALL
FOCUS LA LIGA Coach Zidane not interested in new Bayern complete Real transfers
Reuters Madrid
eal Madrid coach quadruple with Zinedine Zidane says he does not want to sign any more play- ersR before the transfer win- dow shuts, even after his side looked short on fi repower in their 0-0 draw at Real So- ciedad in last week’s season Super Cup triumph opener. Real have been unusually quiet in the transfer window Martinez heads in extra time winner, Bayern win fourth title this year since winning La Liga in July, going to work hard to get in the making no new signings de- right shape so we can achieve spite parting ways with Gareth the objectives we have set our- Bale, James Rodriguez, Achraf selves. “Anything could hap- Hakimi and Sergio Reguilon. pen but right now like all other Their only new arrivals were coaches I want the transfer Borja Mayoral, Alvaro Odrio- window to shut as soon as pos- zola and Martin Odegaard who sible, all we want to do is talk all returned from loan spells. about matches.” Madrid’s squad was so light Zidane did get a boost this against Real Sociedad that week as wingers Marco Asen- Zidane brought on two play- sio, Lucas Vazquez and Eden ers, Sergio Arribas and Marvin Hazard all returned but he Park, who had never played for admitted the players were un- the fi rst team and did not have likely to feature against Betis Wikipedia pages before kick- because they have trained so off . little. But speaking before Ma- Madrid lost on their last drid’s second game of the sea- visit to Betis 2-1 in March, just son away to Real Betis on Sat- before the coronavirus pan- urday, Zidane insisted he was demic caused global sport to happy with the players at his shut down. disposal. “This is the squad I The Seville club, coached have and I won’t ask for any- by former Madrid manager one else,” said the Frenchman. Manuel Pellegrini, have made a “Everyone wants to know 100% start to the new season, who is going to come but I’m beating Alaves 1-0 and Real content with my squad. We’re Valladolid 2-0.
COMMENT Coach De Boer says exciting Dutch team have bright future
Reuters Championship in France but Amsterdam qualifi ed for Euro 2020, post- Bayern Munich players celebrate with the trophy after winning the UEFA Super Cup match against Sevilla FC at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary. (AFP) poned to next year. De Boer’s contract is through to the 2022 AFP After Lucas Ocampos con- also scoring in 2013.” Alaba had fouled Rakitic in the Sevilla defender in the build up. rank de Boer says he World Cup in Qatar. Budapest verted an early penalty for Se- After also sweeping the Bun- area and Ocampos converted Se- With 90 minutes almost up, is looking forward to “I see a very productive pe- villa, Leon Goretzka equalised desliga, German Cup and Cham- villa’s penalty. Alaba was booked Manuel Neuer underlined his working with an ex- riod ahead of us and a chance for Bayern, who had two second- pions League trophies, Bayern for the challenge and there were status as one of the world’s best citing generation of to do something special. We eteran midfi elder Javi half goals disallowed before sub- can win a fi fth title this year nervous glances in the Germans’ goalkeepers with a fi nger-tip DutchF players and confi dent need that after missing two big Martinez admitted stitute Martinez, 32, struck from when they host Borussia Dort- ranks, especially when defender save to deny En-Nesyri after Se- that the Netherlands are on tournaments. There is so much it was “a dream” to a late corner. mund in Munich for the German Benjamin Pavard and Thomas villa attacked from the edge of the brink of a successful run young talent knocking on the be able to write more Bayern head coach Hansi Super Cup on Wednesday. Mueller both missed chances. their own penalty area. in world football. De Boer was door now,” he added. VUEFA Super Cup history for Flick praised his team for “pull- Goretzka got Bayern back on Sevilla made a great start to appointed as Netherlands The Netherlands showed Bayern Munich on Thursday as ing through with their mental- RAKITIC REGRETS level terms when Mueller and extra-time with Bayern in all coach on Wednesday and pre- remarkable improvement un- his header in extra time sealed a ity. In the end, my players went Sevilla midfi elder Ivan Rakitic Robert Lewandowski combined sorts of trouble, as Ocampos had sented to the media yesterday der Koeman over the last two 2-1 win over Sevilla in Budapest. through the pain barrier to win.” said Bayern goalkeeper Manuel in the area for the midfi elder to a shot blocked while En-Ne- as the replacement for Ronald years, not only qualifying for Having equalised with a cru- Having replaced Goretzka on Neuer made the diff erence with smash home the equaliser with syri’s shot clipped the post after Koeman, who has taken over at Euro 2020 but also reaching cial 120th-minute goal seven 99 minutes, it was Martinez – two superb late saves to deny 34 minutes gone. crashing off Neuer’s leg. Barcelona. the fi nal of the inaugural Na- years ago when Bayern won linked to a return to Spain after Youssef En-Nesyri. “We saw to- It stayed 1-1 at the break, but However, the scene was set for “I’m here to win and to en- tions League last year. the 2013 Super Cup on penal- losing his fi rst-team place – night how important Neuer is for Bayern turned up the heat on the Martinez, a veteran of the side sure we get results. We have the “I’m not Koeman 2.0. I have ties against Chelsea in Prague, whose header extends Bayern’s them,” said Rakitic. Europa League holders. which won the 2013 Champions quality players to do it. I was my own approach and I’m not Martinez struck on 104 minutes winning streak to 23 games dat- “We had two great chances to Just six minutes after the League fi nal in London, to add to proud as a player to put on the going to copy someone else but at the Puskas Arena to hand the ing back to February. go ahead, but he stopped them. break, Lewandowski had the ball his chapter in Bayern’s folklore. national team shirt and it is a re- I’d like to stay on the same path Champions League winners a “Whenever I wear the Bayern “Then we gave away a silly in the net after being set up by “I was so happy when the ally special moment for me to be as him. It’s on my to-do list to fourth title in 2020. shirt, I always try to give my best corner and they scored. Never- Thomas Mueller, but the VAR coach brought Javi on, because here as national coach,” said the talk to him,” De Boer said. There were a smattering of and I showed that once again to- theless, we can be proud of how spotted the Poland striker was I know how good he is with his 50-year-old, who won 112 caps De Boer starts with three travelling Bayern and Sevilla day,” Martinez told Sky. we played against the best team off side. With an hour gone, Bay- head from set pieces,” said Bay- as a player and was assistant matches next month – a fans among the 15,180 crowd in “I always want to help the in Europe.” ern winger Leroy Sane was left ern captain Neuer. “Sevilla are a coach when the Dutch reached friendly against Mexico in Budapest as both clubs played team by scoring a goal. It’s a Champions League winners frustrated after his shot powered well-drilled team, it’s not easy the 2010 World Cup fi nal. Amsterdam on Oct. 7 and then for the fi rst time in front of spec- dream come true. Bayern fell behind for the fi rst past Sevilla’s Moroccan goal- to play against them, but overall The Netherlands missed out Nations League matches in tators since the Covid-19 pan- “I’m really happy to win this time this season on 14 minutes keeper Bono, but the VAR spot- we deserved the win and can be on the last World Cup in Rus- Bosnia on October 11 and Italy demic fi rst hit Europe in March. trophy for a second time after when the VAR judged David ted Lewandowski had fouled a proud of ourselves.” sia and also the 2016 European on October 14.
SPOTLIGHT ‘Nothing surprises me anymore,’ says Messi AFP transfer, although, if he does well, Bar- Madrid celona could receive some money. Suarez, who hit 198 goals for Barca, becoming the third highest goalscorer ionel Messi bid an emotional in the history of the club, cried as he bid farewell yesterday to Luis Sua- an impromptu farewell to the club on rez, the day after the Uruguayan Thursday. striker had said tearful goodbyes “I’m going to keep playing, with fresh Lto Barcelona after the club sent him to motivation, with the objective to show I Atletico Madrid. can continue competing,” Suarez said. “Today I went into the dressing room “Everyone knows the relationship we and the awful truth hit me,” Messi post- have, Leo and me. I’ve already played ed on Instagram, before renewing his against him in the Uruguay-Argentina criticism of club management. matches, playing against each other is “You deserved to be sent off as what not going to change the feelings we have you are: one of the most important play- for each other,” Suarez said. ers in the history of the club,” Messi Messi and Suarez were neighbours in wrote. “And not to be fi red in the way the beachside suburb of Castelldefels they did it.” and would arrive at training together. “The truth is that at this point noth- “How diffi cult it is going to be not ing surprises me anymore.” to continue to share the days with you, Messi has a long-running feud with both on the pitch and off it” wrote Messi club president Josep Maria Bartomeu in a post accompanied by seven pictures which intensifi ed after Barcelona were of the two men together, sometimes with humiliated 8-2 by Bayern in a Champi- their families. “We are going to miss you ons League quarter-fi nal in August. very much. It’s been many years, many Messi tried to force his exit from cups of mate, lunches, dinners...Many Barcelona but fi nally accepted that he things that I will never forget.” would have to see out the fi nal year of his “It’s going to be weird to see you with contract. Meanwhile, two of his clos- another shirt and much more to face est friends on the team, Suarez and the you,” wrote Messi. “But I wish you all Chilean Arturo Vidal have left. the best in this new challenge. I love you The 33-year-old Suarez moves to very much, I love you very much. See Barcelona’s Luis Suarez celebrates scoring their second goal with Lionel Messi during their La Liga match against Real Sociedad in San Sebastian, Spain, on December Atletico on a two-year contract on a free you soon, my friend.” 14, 2019. (Reuters) Gulf Times Saturday, September 26, 2020 5 SPORT
NBA NFL Fitzpatrick and Davis, James fi re Dolphins stroll past Jaguars
Reuters on a 3-yard scoring pass to cap Lakers to 3-1 series the march with 8:09 left in the New York, United States quarter. Miami’s second drive was even yan Fitzpatrick passed more commanding: 80 yards in for two touchdowns and just six plays. Howard fi nished rushed for one to help it off with a 1-yard run to make it Rthe Miami Dolphins 14-0 with 2:37 remaining in the cruise to a 31-13 victory over stanza. lead over Nuggets the host Jacksonville Jaguars on Jacksonville got on the board Thursday night. on Robinson’s 11-yard scamper Fitzpatrick completed 18 of 20 with 13:04 left in the second Lakers have wrapped up both their previous series in five games passes for 160 yards as the Dol- quarter. The Jaguars drove 75 phins (1-2) halted a season-open- yards on nine plays. AFP ing, two-game slide. Mike Ge- The Dolphins answered with Orlando, United States sicki and Preston Williams caught another lengthy excursion of 11 touchdown passes, and Jordan plays and 75 yards over 7:06. Fit- Howard rushed for a score. zpatrick tossed a 15-yard scoring nthony Davis and Le- Gardner Minshew II con- pass to Gesicki to make it 21-7 Bron James combined nected on 30 of 42 passes for 275 with 5:58 left in the half. for 60 points as the yards and one interception for Kyle Van Noy forced and re- Atop-seeded Los Ange- the Jaguars (1-2). James Robin- covered a fumble by Minshew les Lakers seized control of their son rushed for two scores and to- at the Jacksonville 10-yard line Western Conference fi nals series talled 129 yards from scrimmage with 4:04 left in the third quar- with a 114-108 victory over the (46 rushing, 83 receiving). ter, and a penalty on Jaguars left Denver Nuggets on Thursday. The game was played in front tackle Cam Robinson for making James fi nished with 26 points, of approximately 16,000 fans contact with an offi cial moved nine rebounds, and eight assists after the Jaguars made about 25 the ball to the 5. Robinson also and Davis had 34 points as Lak- percent of their stadium seats was ejected. ers held on to beat the Nuggets available in compliance with On third-and-goal from the and take a 3-1 lead in the best- state and local protocols in the 1, Fitzpatrick fi elded a shotgun of-seven series in the NBA’s midst of the coronavirus pan- snap and bulled his way up the quarantine bubble in Orlando, demic. middle for the score to make it Florida. Miami used three long fi rst- 28-7 with 2:01 left in the third Game fi ve is today in Orlando. half scoring drives to exert con- quarter. The Lakers have wrapped up trol despite Jacksonville fi nish- James Robinson added a 1-yard both their previous series in fi ve ing with a 318-294 edge in total scoring run with 9:03 to go in the games. off ense. game before Jaguars kicker Bran- Canadian forward Jamal The Dolphins set the tone by don Wright was wide left with Murray led the Nuggets with 32 travelling 84 yards on 12 plays the extra point. points and eight assists, while and eating up 6:51 on the clock Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders Jerami Grant fi nished with 17 for at the outset of the contest. Fitz- booted a 30-yard fi eld goal with Denver. patrick connected with Williams 3:49 left. Serbia’s Nikola Jokic was held in check most of the game and fi nished with a disappointing 16 points. He missed all four fi eld goal attempts in the fourth. James took it upon himself to guard Murray with the game on the line. “He’s is one of the hottest guys in the bubble,” said James. “He’s very shifty to guard. I just use my length and athleticism, high hand him and meet him at the basket.”
ANOTHER BIG HOLE Denver has dug another big hole in these playoff s and if they are going to advance to the NBA fi - nals they will have to come back from a 3-1 defi cit for the third LA Lakers forward Anthony Davis (centre) shoots past Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (right) during Game Four of the Western straight series. Conference Finals of the 2020 NBA Playoff s in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States, on Thursday. (USA TODAY Sports) Denver lost game four in each of their fi rst two series against and headed the close contest the surpass Kobe Bryant on the list. fl oor. reached up while falling and – Utah and the Los Angeles Clip- rest of the way. Lakers missed 10 of their last 12 with a fl ick of the wrist – spun pers before making a pair of his- Davis and James got the Lak- MURRAY LEADS FIGHTBACK shots before the half but they got the ball off the backboard. toric comebacks. ers off to a strong start by com- James, Davis and Dwight some unexpected scoring from He made another basket half- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope bining for 14 points in the fi rst Howard were the only Lakers to 34-year-old journeyman Howard way through the third to surpass had 13 points and Rajon Rondo quarter as the Lakers led by have multiple baskets in the fi rst who fi nished with 12 points and 20 points in the game, making it tallied 11 points for the Lakers, seven, 37-30, heading into the quarter. Davis rolled his ankle in 11 rebounds, almost all of them the seventh straight game he has who bounced back from a loss second. the second half but said after- coming in the fi rst half. reached at least 20 points. in game three in which they re- James got the Lakers’ fi nal wards it was fi ne. Murray was outstanding The Nuggets went on an 11-4 Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick scrambles with the bounded poorly by outscoring points of the fi rst quarter with Lakers stretched their lead to making several falling, spinning run at the end of the third to ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Florida, United the Nuggets 25-6 in second- a dunk after Rondo stole the ball 12 points in the second quarter and even one leaping left-hand- close the gap to 87-84. States, on Thursday. (USA TODAY Sports) chance points on Thursday. and ran all the way up the court but the Nuggets, led by Murray, ed basket. But on the rare occa- But the Lakers started the “We knew coming in that before making a nifty back pass came storming back. They out- sion he did miss, Murray didn’t fourth by going on a 6-0 run of we didn’t rebound at all (in to James who slammed it home. scored the Lakers 25-23 in the get a lot of support from his re- their own. game three) and we just tried to Lakers guard Rondo fi nished second to cut the defi cit to just bounders. The Nuggets managed to keep Bulls paying Donovan $24mn over change that,” said James. with seven assists to pass Scot- fi ve at the half, 60-55. He made one of the most dy- the score close until the end, but The Lakers took the lead 10-9 tie Pippen for eighth place on Murray led the Nuggets in the namic layups of the postsea- they missed their last fi ve shots four years: report on a 17-foot basket by Davis the all-time playoff list. He had fi rst half, scoring 16 points on son when he went one-on-one of the game as the Lakers played The Chicago Bulls gave new coach Billy Donovan a four-year with 8:16 left in the fi rst quarter eight assists in game three to seven of nine shooting from the with James in the fi rst half and better down the stretch. contract with more than $24mn, The Athletic reported Thursday night. The Bulls introduced Donovan on Thursday during a video conference call. “The history. The organisation. What the Bulls MLB have meant to the game of basketball and to basketball world- wide,” Donovan said. “I mean, it’s an iconic franchise, and cer- tainly to be a part of trying to help build it back up was certainly very, very appealing and exciting. I know it’s going to take a lot of Jays wrap up playoff berth with win over Yankees work.” Donovan replaced Jim Boylen, who was let go in August after compiling a record of 39-84 (.317) since he was named Chi- Reuters cago’s head coach on December 3, 2018. New York, United States OTHER RESULTS Astros 12-4 Rangers Penguins trade Hornqvist to Panthers ladimir Guerrero Jr. Rockies 5-4 Giants The Pittsburgh Penguins traded right wing Patric Hornqvist to had three hits includ- Marlins 4-2 Braves the Florida Panthers on Thursday for defensemen Mike Matheson ing a solo homer, Hyun and center Colton Sceviour. Hornqvist was part of two Stanley Mets 3-2 Nationals Jin Ryu pitched seven Cup championships during his six seasons with the Penguins. Vscoreless innings and the To- Pirates 7-0 Cubs The 33-year-old Hornqvist has 480 career points (238 goals, 242 ronto Blue Jays clinched a posts- Dodgers 5-1 Athletics assists) in 770 regular-season games with the Nashville Preda- eason berth with a 4-1 victory tors (2008-14) and Penguins. “A proven winner and champion, Orioles 13-1 Red Sox over the New York Yankees on Patric brings a level of competition to our club,” Florida general Thursday in Buff alo. Royals 8-7 Tigers manager Bill Zito said. “He is a talented veteran presence who Ryu (5-2) became the fi rst plays with an edge and we look forward to what he can add to our Blue Jays starter to pitch in the power host St. Louis past Mil- group.” Hornqvist had 32 points (17 goals, 15 assists) in 52 games seventh inning this season. He waukee, allowing the Cardinals last season. The goal tally was his lowest since the 2012-13 cam- allowed fi ve hits and two walks to take sole possession of sec- paign and that partially led to the Penguins to move him as he still while striking out four. ond place in the National League is owed for three seasons on a five-year, $26.5mn extension he After Anthony Bass gave up a Central, 2 1/2 games behind the signed in February 2018. run in the eighth, Rafael Dolis al- Chicago Cubs. lowed an infi eld single in 1 1/3 in- The Brewers lost for the third 76ers owners want to hire D’Antoni as nings and had three strikeouts to time in four games to fall 4 1/2 earn his fi fth save of the season. games off the division pace and head coach: report The Blue Jays took three one game out of the NL’s second games of the four-game series wild-card slot. Philadelphia owners want to hire Mike D’Antoni as the 76ers’ next to split their 10-game season se- The Cardinals and Brewers head coach, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. D’Antoni parted ries with the Yankees and reach will play four more games over ways with the Houston Rockets earlier this month after four sea- the postseason for the fi rst time Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (left) celebrates with teammate Randal Grichuk after scoring a the next three days. sons. Last month, the Sixers fired coach Brett Brown after seven since 2016. run against the New York Yankees in Buff alo, New York, United States on Thursday. (USA TODAY Sports) Kwang Hyun Kim (3-0) held seasons following their first-round playoff sweep by the Boston the Brewers to one run on fi ve hits Celtics. D’Antoni was an assistant under Brown in Philadelphia in INDIANS 5, WHITE SOX 4 Cesar Hernandez collected game behind second-place Chi- White Sox, whose season-high in fi ve innings. Andrew Miller, 2015-16. “Sources have been saying since last week that the job Jose Ramirez ripped a go-ahead three hits and as many RBIs for cago after picking up four games losing streak reached fi ve games. the fi fth Cardinals pitcher, closed is D’Antoni’s to turn down. They say he’s the guy the ownership two-run double to cap a four- the Indians, who have won fi ve in four days. out the game to earn his fourth group wants,” reported the Inquirer’s Keith Pompey. “One source run seventh inning as host in a row overall and eight of 10 Nomar Mazara had a two- CARDINALS 4, BREWERS 2 save. St. Louis’ Yadier Molina hit even said the 69-year-old would have to bomb his interview with Cleveland completed a four- against the White Sox this sea- run single and Yolmer Sanchez Dylan Carlson hit a two-run two singles to reach the 2,000- the Sixers owners not to be off ered the job.” game sweep of Chicago. son. Cleveland resides just one launched a solo homer for the homer and an RBI double to hit plateau for his career. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, September 26, 2020 SPORT
FOCUS RUGBY Rennie’s Australia Tokyo organisers head to New Zealand for unveil scaled-back daunting fi rst Tests Reuters urch. Melbourne, Australia Nearly half the squad had only a day’s break after playing last Saturday’s Super Rugby fi nal in he Wallabies boarded Canberra. a charter fl ight to New That left scarcely enough time Zealand yesterday where to bid family farewell and do Olympics plan they will hunker down some laundry before fl ying off to Tbefore their fi rst Bledisloe Cup the Hunter Valley for a training Tests against the All Blacks camp with Rennie and his staff . ‘This has to happen, because we cannot disregard a generation of Olympic athletes’ amid tense relations between They will now spend three the southern hemisphere rugby days confi ned to hotel rooms in AFP powers. Christchurch before being al- Tokyo, Japan A day after Rugby Australia lowed to train in limited groups confi rmed airline Qantas had for a few days if none test posi- dropped its naming sponsorship tive for the novel coronavirus. thlete welcome cer- of the Wallabies, ending a 30- They will eventually be able to emonies will be year association with the team, train as a full squad during quar- scrapped and fl ashy Dave Rennie’s squad fl ew off to antine but only have one day out Aspectacles axed at a Christchurch in a Virgin-brand- of the “bubble” at the end of the scaled-back Tokyo 2020 Games, ed jet. two weeks before taking the fi eld organisers said yesterday, but a They will arrive in a country against the All Blacks in Welling- senior Olympic offi cial insisted still raw about having lost the ton. the event “has to happen”. right to host the entire Rugby As hosts, Ian Foster’s All Fewer free tickets and savings Championship to Australia and Blacks have a less arduous lead- on banners, mascots and fi re- angry over the tournament’s up, and many have enjoyed time works are among more than 50 schedule, which could con- off since the North Island-South cost-cutting measures agreed demn the All Blacks to spending Island clash three weeks ago be- by organisers and Olympic offi - Christmas in quarantine. fore starting their own training cials, less than a year before the New Zealand Rugby were camp this week. virus-postponed event begins. quick to blame Rugby Australia The Wallabies have not won on Despite the complications for their plight, saying they had New Zealand soil since 2001 in and extra costs of the delay, and backtracked on a deal to fi nish Dunedin, nor held the Bledisloe continued uncertainty about the tournament earlier. Cup, the annual trophy contest- how the massive international “We would like to think that, ed between the trans-Tasman event can be held safely, Inter- actually, Australia is incredibly nations, since 2002. national Olympic Committee empathetic with the situation Rebuilding under Rennie, who vice-president John Coates said we are talking about because will also be under intense scruti- cancellation was not an option. we were certainly empathetic ny in his native New Zealand, the “It would have been very easy with their players,” Rob Nichol, Wallabies will be looking to give for you to say ‘this isn’t pos- the New Zealand players’ union home fans hope, if not wins. sible’,” he said via videolink af- chief, told local media. “I guess our job is to play some ter a meeting of organisers and “As a result (we hoped they) positive footy and help our mar- Olympic offi cials in Tokyo and would be pretty keen to help us in keting people bring in another elsewhere. this situation.” big sponsor,” Rennie told report- “But I think we all share the The Wallabies players may not ers. view that this has to be possible, feel like helping the All Blacks in “We’ve got new coaches and a this has to happen, because we any capacity as they head into a lot of new stuff to get our heads cannot disregard a generation of 14-day quarantine in Christch- around.” Olympic athletes.” Yoshiro Mori (right), President of Tokyo 2020, speaks during a press conference in front of a screen with International Olympic Committee Documents released by or- (IOC) vice-president John Coates at Harumi Island Triton Square Tower Y, in Tokyo, Japan, yesterday. (Reuters) ganisers painted a picture of a less-than-opulent event, with “What was initially proposed set to open on July 23, 2021. quality and quantity”, the docu- the Olympics, however, after a the size of behind-the-scenes (for the ceremonies) has been The latest budget is for ments said. recent poll found just one in four delegations reduced by 10 to 15 drastically changing,” acknowl- $12.6bn — with costs set to And welcoming ceremonies want them to go ahead next year, percent, and perks cut back. edged Yoshiro Mori, president of balloon further as venues and held for Olympic and Paralym- with most backing either another The number of athletes will the Tokyo organising committee. transport must be re-booked, pic teams will be scrapped al- postponement or a cancellation. not be reduced, organisers “Maybe it will end up a bit and staff retained for an extra together. Coates described the Organisers and local offi cials pledged. more modest and simple, but I year. Other cost-cutting plans plans as a blueprint for “a new are engaged in complex discus- But offi cials, press and oth- hope it will be something that include giving athletes less time Games, fi t for a post-corona sions about how to safely hold ers involved with the Games will gives joy,” he added. to train at venues, and consoli- world” that could be used in fu- the Games if the pandemic is not be given fewer complimentary dating security points, raising ture. under control. tickets to the opening and clos- ‘TOKYO MODEL’ the possibility of longer queues “We’re going to leave an im- Coates said measures includ- ing ceremonies — with changes The 2020 Games were post- for bag-checks. portant legacy which we’re call- ing regular testing and manda- to the usually dazzling contents poned earlier this year as the Presentation ceremonies to ing the Tokyo Model,” he added. tory vaccination — if a vaccine of the events themselves under deadly new coronavirus spread introduce each sport should be There are signs that public en- is available — were among the review. around the globe, and are now produced in “bare-minimum thusiasm in Japan is waning for possibilities.
Cheika to help Argentina during Rugby Championship ormer Australia coach quarter-finals of last year’s proposed renewing their part- creative vision, very diff erent Henry acted as a coaching Michael Cheika will act World Cup, has been working nership at the start of the year. from most coaches that I have adviser to the Pumas in 2012-13 Fas a coaching consultant in a similar capacity for the Na- “He was very excited, he has come across.” after guiding the All Blacks for Argentina during the Rugby tional Rugby League champion always liked Argentine rugby Since Australia was named as to their second World Cup Championship in November Sydney Roosters this year. a lot,” Ledesma said in a news host nation of the Rugby Cham- triumph in 2011. and December, Pumas coach Ledesma, who worked as scrum release. pionship last week, Ledesma Cheika remains the only coach Mario Ledesma has announced. coach under Cheika at Stade “This an excellent opportunity said, Cheika had been helping to have won both the European Cheika, who quit as Wallabies Francais and with the Walla- to continue learning because with logistical issues for the Cup (Leinster in 2009) and coach after his team were bies before returning home to he thinks out of the box and squad ahead of the trip. Super Rugby (New South Wales In this October 27, 2018, picture, Australia’s players line up before the well beaten by England in the Argentina in 2017, said he had has an innovative and super New Zealand coach Graham Waratahs in 2014). Bledisloe Cup rugby union Test against New Zealand All Blacks in Yokohama, Japan. (AFP)
SPOTLIGHT Dilemma for Springboks as Championship decision looms
AFP SA Rugby sustained losses in 2016 Johannesburg, South Africa and 2017, made small profi ts in the Kolisi wants Stormers’ players to make up own minds about Black Lives Matter next two years, then slashed 1.2bn rand Reuters “We’ve tried to narrow it and then the next guy will ($70.5mn/60.5mn euros) off the 2020 outh Africa were included in Cape Town, South Africa down to what’s going on answer for themselves.” budget due to the pandemic. the 2020 Rugby Champion- here in South Africa,” Kolisi South Africa’s minister of Roux acknowledged the diffi cult de- ship fi xtures released Thursday, told reporters. “We pride sport, Nathi Mthethwa, cision that must be made, saying “ulti- Sbut the world champions have tormers captain Siya ourselves on our diversity angrily demanded action mately it will be a rugby decision... but several hurdles to clear before they can Kolisi says it will in the Stormers team. from rugby authorities there is an economic imperative.” take part. Sbe up each of his “There are so many things when eight South Africans While South Africa celebrated the First, the government must lift a ban teammates as to whether that people can do to at English side Sale Sharks World Cup triumph, memories remain on teams from the republic competing to show their support for show their support and did not take a knee before fresh of the Springboks conceding 57 internationally, which was introduced Black Lives Matter when we said, as long as we’re a game last month, while points in successive matches against early this year when the coronavirus rugby resumes in the getting the education, others in the side did so. New Zealand a few years ago. pandemic spread to southern Africa. country today. and we’re learning and “(The) BLM movement is Former Springboks captain Wynand Then, SA Rugby offi cials must con- Kolisi, who led South growing each week, what important because the Claassen says “SA Rugby must take a vince national coach Jacques Niena- Africa to the World Cup someone else does, that’s rot and the pain has been stand and decide what is in the best in- ber to change his stance on how many in Japan last year, has up to you. faced by black players here terests of the national team. matches a player must participate in revealed in-depth discus- “We’re not going to judge in South Africa,” Mthethwa “Yes, money talks, but it is not all before being ready for international sions within the Stormers each other. We have to said in a statement. about money. I believe we should forget duty. camp about BLM and respect what they (team- The Stormers will play in about the Rugby Championship this “If we cannot play six (domestic) equality, and says they mates) are doing and the what is essentially a pre- year,” he told Johannesburg daily The matches, then I do not think we will go agreed it would be up to decision they’re making, season fixture against the Citizen. (to the Rugby Championship). Player each individual to decide and they will answer for it. Lions on Saturday, the first Author and respected Business Day well-being risks would just be too their own stance without “If you ask me what I’m rugby to be played in the columnist Gavin Rich has argued for great,” the coach said. prejudice. doing, I will answer for it country since March. several months against competing in Should South Africa compete in the the four-nation competition. tournament from November 7 against “Going to the Championship with hosts Australia, New Zealand and Ar- Sharks and Stormers. round over the weekend of October The All Blacks and Wallabies will also Springboks probably would not go to players who have played just a few gentina, they will do so without local- Cape Town hosts a Springboks trial a 23/24, home-based players will have benefi t from two Bledisloe Cup inter- the Rugby Championship this year,” a games will leave them vulnerable to the based stars meeting the six-match tar- week later, then on October 10 a Super played a maximum of fi ve games. nationals before the Rugby Champion- senior rugby offi cial told AFP. kind of beatings suff ered against New get. Rugby Unlocked competition involving While South African stars have been ships kicks off . “Jurie (Roux, the SA Rugby chief ex- Zealand a few seasons ago. A season halted in March by Cov- the ‘big four’ plus the Cheetahs, Gri- restricted to training, much of it non- ecutive) and other offi cials are aware of “Heavy losses could undermine id-19 restarts today with two matches quas and Pumas kicks off . contact, since the March shutdown, ‘FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS’ the risks in sending an underprepared much of the progress that has been in Pretoria between the South African Even if the Springboks can delay New Zealand and Australia staged do- “If Jacques and (director of rugby) team, but fi nancial considerations have made in rebuilding the Springbok aura Super Rugby sides, the Bulls, Lions, their departure until after the third mestic competitions. Rassie (Erasmus) had their way, the to be taken into account.” by winning the World Cup.” Gulf Times Saturday, September 26, 2020 7 SPORT
CRICKET SPOTLIGHT Australia cricket mourns ‘original Shaw shines in maverick’ Jones Delhi’s big victory over Chennai DC conceded only 10 runs in the last two overs to seal their second win in a row
File photo of Dean Jones who died in Mumbai on Thursday after a heart-attack.
AFP mere statistics — however ex- Sydney cellent they were,” the Brisbane Courier-Mail’s Robert Crad- dock wrote. ustralian cricket was The ABC’s Russell Jackson reeling yesterday at the said Jones’ daredevil batting shock death of batting revolutionised one-day cricket great Dean Jones, with and helped Australia win the nationalA coach Justin Langer 1987 World Cup. leading tributes to a player he “Jones could be subtle and called “the stuff of legend”. brutal in the space of a minute,” Langer revealed he was on the Jackson wrote. cusp of recruiting Jones into his “He dictated terms, using the coaching set-up for next year’s width of his crease and the full World Cup when the 59-year- 360 degrees to set new stand- old died of a heart attack in ards.” Mumbai, where he had been For all his exploits in the lim- commentating on the Indian ited-overs game, it was Jones’ Premier League. gutsy Test innings against In- “I was talking about getting dia at Chennai in 1986 that re- Deano in to help us with World mained etched in the minds of Cup stuff as a mentor and coach, his admirers after 34 years. sadly that’s not going to hap- Jones defi ed furnace-like pen,” Langer told the Australian conditions to score 210, vomit- Broadcasting Corp. ing and shaking at the crease to “(But) the legacy he leaves to save Australia’s hopes in crick- Australian cricket and Austral- et’s second-ever tied Test, and ian cricketers won’t be lost on was then taken to hospital for us.” dehydration after losing eight Jones’ dashing strokeplay in- kilos (18 pounds) during the in- spired generations of batsmen, nings. including current power-hitter “It’s part of legend in Austral- Glenn Maxwell. ian Test cricket, the brother- “Incredibly shocked by the hood of the baggy green, his 200 news that Dean Jones has passed in Chennai and the way he bat- Prithvi Shaw of Delhi Capitals belts the the Chennai bowling at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium yesterday. PICTURE: Sportzpics for BCCI away. Had a poster of the great ted with AB (Allan Border), yeah, man in my room as a kid,” Max- stuff of legend,” said Langer. Agencies toss and elected to fi eld. tenth over to complete his fi fty. Defending 175, DC did not While du Plessis enjoyed well tweeted. Jones’ dedication to the cause Dubai Prithvi Shaw set the ball roll- CSK needed a breakthrough give away any easy runs in a couple of reprieves, he was Jones played 52 Tests from cemented him as a fan favourite. ing for DC, hitting two fours in and Chawla provided them the fi rst three overs before eventually dismissed for 43 by 1984-1992, amassing 3,631 runs “Nobody batted like Deano. the fi rst over bowled by Deepak with one, dismissing Dhawan Shane Watson hit Avesh Khan Kagiso Rabada in the 18th over. at an average of 46.55, while Nobody danced down the pitch elhi Capitals (DC) Chahar. While there were a cou- in the 11th over. The leg-spinner for a four and a six in the 4th With 55 needed in the last two his 164 one-day internationals to take the game on like Deano. sealed their second ple of quiet overs, Shaw added struck one more time as Shaw over. But Axar Patel dismissed overs, CSK needed a miracle to yielded 6,068 runs and an aver- Nobody provoked bowlers like successive win in two more fours to his account as was stumped for 64. Watson in the next over before win the match. But DC conced- age of 44.61. Deano. the Dream11 Indian he took on Sam Curran. Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Anrich Nortje got Murali Vijay ed only 10 runs in the last two Known universally as Nobody could talk like Deano,” PremierD League (IPL) 2020 as Piyush Chawla was intro- Pant joined forces in the middle out on the last ball of the pow- overs and sealed 44-run win to “Deano”, Jones was remembered The Australian’s Peter Lalor they beat Chennai Super Kings duced into the attack in the following Shaw’s dismissal in erplay. DC conceded just 13 runs seal their second win in a row. as a fi erce competitor whose wrote. (CSK) by 44 runs at the Dubai seventh over and Shaw wel- the 13th over and added 58 runs in the next four overs and lost knockabout demeanour con- The Sydney Morning Herald’s International Cricket Stadium comed him with two fours. In together. The partnership was the wicket of Ruturaj Gaikwad. Brief Scores: cealed a keen cricketing mind Andrew Wu admitted Jones was yesterday. the next over, Shikhar Dhawan broken in the 19th over when Faf du Plessis and Kedar Jad- Delhi Capitals 175/3 (Prithvi bursting with innovative ideas. one of the few athletes that could In the seventh game of the hit Ravindra Jadeja for a six and Dhoni took a stunning catch, hav put up a 54-run stand for Shaw 64, Rishabh Pant 37*; Piy- “The cricket world is shat- make him set aside journalistic season, CSK, who made one a four as DC moved past 60. diving to his right off Curran’s the next wicket and kept the ush Chawla 2/33) beat Chennai tered today for it has lost one of impartiality and embrace his in- change to their playing XI, Shaw once again went after bowling. Hazlewood’s last over CSK hopes alive before Nortje Super Kings 131/7(Faf du Plessis its greatest characters, a totally ner fanboy. bringing in Josh Hazlewood in Chawla in the ninth over and went for 14 runs as DC posted got Jadhav out LBW in the 16th 43, Kedar Jadhav 26; Kagiso original maverick talent whose “Deano was the player you place of Lungi Ngidi, won the then hit a six off Jadeja in the 175/3 on the board. over. Rabada 3/26) by 44 runs contribution went far beyond wanted to be,” he wrote.
MOTORCYCLING Sharma slams Gavaskar over ‘distasteful’ Kohli comments Morbidelli fastest New Delhi: Bollywood superstar Kings XI Punjab in Dubai, which is hosting He referred to a recent viral video which statement” the 32-year-old wrote. Anushka Sharma has hit out at legendary this year’s Indian Premier League. showed Sharma bowling to Kohli on their “It’s 2020 and things still don’t change for Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar after he He dropped two catches off K L Rahul apartment terrace in Mumbai while the me. When will I stop getting dragged into in wind-blown referenced her while discussing husband that let his Test teammate cruise to a city’s residents were stuck at home at the cricket,” she added. Virat Kohli’s lack of match practice. record-breaking century while Kohli was height of the coronavirus pandemic. Twitter lit up over the incident with Sharma starred in a dozen hit films and dismissed for one run during the chase. “During the recent lockdown he (Kohli) furious fans calling for Gavaskar to be Catalan practice built a successful career before mar- He was also later fined $16,300 for his only practised against Anushka’s bowl- sacked from commentary, while others rying the India captain but is regularly team’s slow over rate. ing... But that is not going to be enough,” sent messages of support of the com- AFP harassed online by cricket fans whenever Gavaskar was commentating on the he said. Sharma responded with an mentator. Barcelona her partner fails with the bat. match and the celebrated former skipper Instagram post slamming Gavaskar for Sharma and Kohli, 31, have been a staple Kohli’s latest outing on Thursday was said it was clear Kohli did not get enough his “distasteful” comment. in celebrity magazines and newspapers. one to forget as his Royal Challengers proper practice ahead of the T20 tourna- “I would love for you to explain why you The couple are expecting their first child ranco Morbidelli and Bangalore crashed to a 97-run defeat to ment. thought of making such a sweeping in January. Johann Zarco left it late yesterday to record the two fastest times of the fiF rst day of practice for the Cata- BOTTOMLINE lan MotoGP. Both were among the riders who crashed on a wind-buff eted afternoon, but on their fi nal laps became the only two riders to dip under 1min 40sec all day. Morbidelli, an Italian who NZ approves Pakistan and rides for Yamaha-SRT, was fast- est with Zarco of Ducati satellite Avintia just over one tenth of a Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Italian second back. rider Franco Morbidelli gestures Morbidelli’s team-mate, during the second MotoGP free West Indies cricket tours Frenchman Fabio Quartararo practice session of the Moto Agencies White said the teams would fl y “Like many New Zealanders I am look- dies, Zimbabwe and the T20 World Cup had set the best time in the Grand Prix de Catalunya at the Wellington to Auckland then catch a charter to ing forward to seeing international sport this year. morning but that was surpassed Circuit de Catalunya in Mont- Christchurch, where they would stay in resuming,” he said in a statement. A money-spinning tour by India fea- by fi ve riders in the afternoon. melo yesterday. quarantine while training at NZC’s high- “It is a huge part of our culture and turing four Tests, three ODIs and three South African Brad Binder ew Zealand’s government has performance centre in Lincoln Univer- helps bring us together as a nation.” T20s will proceed, with offi cials conced- was third ahead of Spaniard and Vinales by one point. approved quarantine arrange- sity. White said all players would follow ing the funds it generates will be crucial Maverick Vinales of Yamaha. A third practice session will ments that would allow the health and testing protocols set down by AFGHAN TEST POSTPONED to CA’s future. The Catalan race is the eighth take place on Saturday morn- Pakistan and West Indies teams the government. Cricket Australia postponed plans The Afghanistan and New Zealand of 15 in a season which has be- ing before qualifying from 14:10 Nto tour in coming months, the country’s “It’s not going to come cheap, we will to host a Test match against Afghani- tours were never going to be such a high come highly competitive in the (1210 GMT). cricket board said yesterday. be footing the bill but we are happy to do stan and a one-day series against New priority, although CA said it hoped to re- absence of the six-time world The riders with the ten fast- New Zealand Cricket chief executive that and fully understand it’s a user pays Zealand yesterday, saying the corona- schedule them some time before the end champion Marc Marquez (Hon- est times from the fi rst three free David White said the tours would help model,” he said. virus pandemic had made arranging the of 2023. da), who broke his arm in the practice sessions will participate the sport through the coronavirus pan- “We’ll be guided by the government, matches too diffi cult. “We all worked incredibly hard to fi rst race. After posting the sec- directly in the second qualifying demic. whatever they demand, we’ll follow.” The Test, scheduled for Perth in late make the series happen this summer, ond-fastest time in the morn- session (Q2), which determines “It’s a huge boost for us, it’s our fi nan- Sports Minister Grant Robertson said November, would have been the fi rst but the challenges around international ing, championship leader An- the top 12 places on the grid. cial lifeline,” he told reporters. arranging quarantine bubbles for the played between cricketing superpower travel and quarantine restrictions ul- drea Dovizioso, an Italian with The remaining drivers must “International cricket funds the whole touring teams had not been easy, but it Australia and minnows Afghanistan. timately convinced all parties that the Ducati, was only 18th quickest in participate in a pre-qualifying game of cricket in New Zealand, so it’s was worth the eff ort to have internation- The pandemic has already scuppered series would need to be played at a later the afternoon. session (Q1), with the two fastest very, very important for us.” al sport in New Zealand again. plans for Australia to host the West In- date,” it said. Dovizioso leads Quartararo drivers selected for Q2.
Saturday, September 26, 2020 GULF TIMES SPORT
TENNIS RACING Qatar Racing’s Kameko wins Group Nadal eyes 20-Slam 2 in Newmarket
Agencies behind in third. Newmarket, United Kingdom Kameko was one of the two three-year-olds in the race and, being a Group 1 winner, he had atar Racing Limit- to give some weight to his elders. Federer record with ed-owned Kameko Murphy said, “There’s a lot of bounced back in the pressure on the fastest Guineas Shadwell Joel Stakes winner ever, but there were no (GroupQ 2), at Newmarket yester- options for him and I don’t think day with a fantastic victory. there have been many three- The three-year-old trained year-olds that could give weight by Andrew Balding had not won to horses like Benbatl. He’s defi - since his success in the 1,000 nitely a miler and he might get 13th French title Guineas (Group 1) in a record an easy ten (furlongs) on fast time at Newmarket in May. ground, but it would be nice to Yesterday, Kameko, under Oi- make him as good a racehorse as Nadal owns an astounding 93-2 record in Paris dating back to his debut in 2005 sin Murphy, chased the leaders he can be. So much hard work has in the Shadwell Joel Stakes and, gone into him to keep him sound AFP Despite the sense this is the despite looking a little lethargic and organised. It’s a huge team Paris most understrength version early on, he showed a good turn eff ort. of Nadal at the French Open in of foot in the last two furlongs “Sheikh Fahad buys plenty of recent times, Djokovic remains to win by half-a-length in front horses and breeds as best he can he undisputed king adamant the 34-year-old is of Regal Reality while Benbatl to fi nd champion horses and now of clay, Rafael Nadal again the favourite to lift the fi nished a further half-a-length he’s found two.” is one title away from Coupe des Mousquetaires. Tmatching Roger Fe- “The record that he has derer’s all-time Grand Slam there, the history of his results, record, but 15 years on from the you just can’t put anybody in Spaniard’s fi rst French Open front of him,” said Djokovic, triumph he appears more vul- himself vying to add to his lone nerable than ever at his beloved 2016 triumph at Roland Garros. Roland Garros. “But, you know, defi nitely Nadal owns an astounding Diego showed that Nadal is 93-2 record in Paris dating back beatable on clay,” added the to his debut in 2005, when, still Serb. a teenager, he became the fi rst “The conditions that they player to win the French Open played on, obviously heavy clay, on his fi rst attempt since Mats not much bounce, humid, night Wilander in 1982. sessions, we are going to have Fast-forward to the present that as well in Paris. I’m pretty day, and his 19 Grand Slam sure that he does not prefer crowns — a record 12 of which that to a high bounce. I know he have come at Roland Garros — likes the high bounce. coupled with Federer’s absence “He likes the hot and warm Oisin Murphy (right) rides Kameko to victory in the Shadwell Joel after knee surgery leave him on and fast conditions, where he Stakes (Group 2) at Newmarket yesterday. (Racing Post) the brink of history at a venue can use his spin a lot. Even where he has won each of the though he’s the favourite, I past three years. think there are players that can FORMULA 1 Yet a multitude of factors, win against him there.” mostly beyond his control, Another championship run have conspired against Nadal for Nadal, not accounting for and off ered hope to his chief Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates with the 2019 French Open trophy after his final match against Austria’s potential walkovers, would take Mercedes’ Bottas rivals — namely Novak Djoko- Dominic Thiem. him to a century of wins at the vic and recent US Open winner French Open. Dominic Thiem. Boris Becker, a who has fi nished runner-up in tice. Normally, he was coming cuses. I’ve spent a long time Only Federer, Serena Wil- fastest in Russian former coach of world number Paris twice in succession. to Roland Garros having often without competing, I played liams, Martina Navratilova and one Djokovic, suggested the “This year is going to be par- played four big clay tourna- two good matches,” Nadal, who Chris Evert have hit triple digits rescheduled tournament — ticularly hard for Rafael Nadal. ments, which he had generally skipped the US Open citing in wins at a single major in the Grand Prix practice pushed back from its tradi- He’s my number one favourite won.” Nadal will head into the Covid-19 concerns, said fol- Open era. tional spring billing due to the but the diff erence between him French Open without a clay ti- lowing the defeat. Schwartzman agreed that Reuters aging his car’s rear wing. coronavirus pandemic — will be and the other players is less tle under his belt for the fi rst “It’s a completely special and Nadal was still the favourite. Sochi Mercedes technical director tougher than usual for Nadal. big this year than usual,” said time, having lost in straight sets unpredictable year,” he added. “Rafa is the king. It’s his James Allison told Sky Sports The heavier conditions could Becker, a six-time Grand Slam to Diego Schwartzman in the “I did my job here. I did a cou- house. He went to Roland Gar- television that Hamilton dam- suit hardcourt players more and champion. quarter-fi nals at Rome — his ple things well and other things ros many years playing good, altteri Bottas set the aged his hard tyres early in the negate some of Nadal’s lethal “He’s not in his regular fi rst tournament in six months. bad. At least I played three sometimes not playing his best practice pace yes- opening session. topspin, possibly aiding Thiem rhythm. He needs match prac- “It’s not a moment for ex- matches.” and he won.” terday for a Russian “It’s incredibly easy to lock up VGrand Prix that could a tyre and destroy the tyre set for see Mercedes teammate Lewis the remainder of the session,” he Hamilton equal Michael Schu- said. Djokovic will take out frustration on rivals, says Wilander macher’s all-time record of 91 The Russian Grand Prix will be Formula One wins. the fi rst race of a Covid-hit sea- Paris: Novak Djokovic will release any He recovered his poise to win the Rome since winning his first title there in 2005, Bottas was quickest in both son with a signifi cant number of pent up frustration from his undignified Masters title and Wilander says Djokovic the fact the tournament is being played sessions, with Hamilton ending fans present and organisers, who US Open exit on his opponents during will use the pain of his US debacle to inflict when the courts are less lively than in the day second overall — 0.267 had aimed for a 30,000-strong the French Open and is favourite to maximum damage on the Parisian clay. the early summer means it should suit slower — after tyre problems in crowd, said all tickets were sold claim his second Roland Garros title, “I think Novak has kept it inside and baseline-hugging Djokovic’s power the morning left him 19th. out. says former champion Mats Wilander. thought I’m going to take revenge on the and precision. “He’ll have to fight hard It was the sixth race weekend Mercedes have won every race The 33-year-old Serb looked odds-on situation, on life and on myself,” Eurosport because the points will be long and heavy in a row that Bottas, who has so at the Sochi circuit since the fi rst to win the title at Flushing Meadows expert and seven-time Grand Slam cham- but I can’t imagine anyone being more far won only the opening race in 2014, with six times world but was defaulted during his fourth pion Wilander told Reuters. prepared for a slowish claycourt than in Austria in July, had topped champion Hamilton triumphant round against Pablo Carreno Busta after “He said he would take a look at himself Novak,” Wilander said. the fi rst session timesheets and on four occasions. inadvertently hitting a line judge in the from inside, and he apologised. I think “I think Novak is a slight favourite, it Mercedes again looked the team The champions have also throat with a ball. his way of apologising is to go and kick means so much. If he gets to 18 and Nadal to beat. started every race this season on It was the only blemish in a year in everyone’s ****. He has already done it in is 19 then you would think he has a good The Finn also led the way at pole position. which Djokovic, the world number Rome and now Paris in late September/ chance then to get in front.” the Tuscan Grand Prix in Italy Hamilton leads Bottas by 55 one, has assembled a 33-1 record and October he’ll think that claycourt is going Roger Federer, who will miss the tourna- two weeks ago, only for Ham- points after nine races. deprived him of the chance to reach 18 titles, one behind Rafa Nadal who will be to be absolutely perfect for me.” ment, leads the way with a men’s record ilton to seize pole position and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen Grand Slam gunning for a 13th French Open crown. While Nadal has owned Roland Garros 20 Grand Slam titles. then take his sixth win in nine was third fastest in the morn- races this year and 90th of his ing, when Canadian Nicholas career. Latifi crashed and brought out Australian Daniel Ricciardo red fl ags, but dropped to seventh SPOTLIGHT signalled the emerging threat after lunch. from Renault by posting the sec- Mexican Sergio Perez was ond fastest time in the morning fourth and sixth fastest in the and third in the afternoon when sessions for Racing Point. McLaren’s Carlos Sainz and Sebastian Vettel was the high- Lando Norris were fourth and est Ferrari driver in ninth in the fi fth. morning but teammate Charles Azarenka embraces French Sainz had hit the barriers in an Leclerc ended the second ses- test aft er years of hating clay interrupted fi rst session, dam- sion eighth. AFP The second year I enjoy it after 40-year-old Venus Williams in Paris 16 years on tour. I’m looking round two. forward to it.” Azarenka, seeded 10th, is also Azarenka’s best performance on course to meet old rival and ictoria Azarenka is in the French capital came when close friend Serena Williams in welcoming the chal- she reached the last four in 2013, the last 16, just weeks after she lenge of trying to back losing in three sets to Maria beat the 23-time Grand Slam Vup her run to the US Sharapova. winner in their US Open semi- Open fi nal with another strong In four appearances since, she fi nal. showing at Roland Garros de- has not advanced beyond the “I think the focus is what spite just three wins in Paris third round and twice lost her can I do best to perform here. over the past seven years. opening match. It’s going to be a lot about ad- The Belarusian’s career had Of Azarenka’s 21 career titles, justment,” said Azarenka, with nosedived after injury and then just the one — at the short-lived gusting winds and overcast a custody battle of her son, but Andalucia Tennis Experience in conditions expected to start the the former world number one 2011 — has come on clay. tournament. showed in New York she was “I hated clay. I hated every- “I played today for the fi rst far from fi nished at Grand Slam thing about it. The bad bounc- time on the courts here after it level. es, the sliding that I can’t stop. rained. It’s very diff erent. The Her loss to Naomi Osaka was The ball bounce here and eve- court feels really, really heavy. her third US Open fi nal de- ited increased maturity for her cussing the clay out every single rything,” said a grinning Aza- “It’s not going to be like a nor- feat, but also marked her fi rst resurgence and sounded enthu- time I play on it,” Azarenka, 31, renka. mal Roland Garros where the appearance in a Grand Slam siastic about her French Open told reporters yesterday. “Ask me what I could not ball bounces high and the court championship match since the prospects. “I feel like I enjoy better, I ad- complain about when I used gets faster. second of back-to-back losses “I feel like especially from just better. I think it’s going to to play, so...I guess (that’s) “I feel like it’s going to be to Serena Williams at Flushing last year, I felt that I fi nally start be a lot about adaptation from growth.” something diff erent. I feel like Meadows in 2013. to kind of fi nding my rhythm, day-to-day. The world number 14 opens it’s going to be day-to-day ad- Azarenka, a two-time Aus- actually enjoying myself play- “I’m actually excited to kind against Montenegro’s Dan- justment. I think more than ever tralian Open champion, cred- ing on clay, sliding, instead of of build up my game on clay. ka Kovinic, and could meet it’s going to be about day to day.” Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas during practice in Sochi yesterday.